The Old Den and Boundary Park, Oldham Athletic's ground. The Den just because it was a hole and populated in the home end by morons, and it was dangerous going to or from wearing any type of colours except theirs, and Boundary Park because it's always freezing cold, even in late summer.
I would love to go back to the days gone by before these souless constructions of wealth and power. when Anfield goes it will be a truely sad day.
i loved the smell of the piss the stench of the horse meat pies the drunk bloke leaning against the barrier on a terrace that was either vast or small, the congregation of pals upon those steps, the noise the conditions the feel of a saturday, you were so close you could smell the mud and grass you heard the crunch of a tackle and the whalop of the ball.
and i am only 33 you are talking mid 80's here the best footballing memories i have, the peanut man the programme seller inside.
fuk how i wish i could go back ala life on mars how great it would be
Funnily enough some of the worst grounds have the happiest memories for me. True that Filbert Street, Fratton Park, Highfield Road, Layer Road and the County Ground were not up to today's standards but they were only part of the away day experience. There's a big difference between being a spectator and a fan.
In the UK - Boundary Park (because, as mentioned above, its always f***ing freezing) or Meadow Lane (because it is, quite simply, a shithole)
In Italy - the Angelo Massimino - Catania (because it is the most frightening ground I've ever been to - watching a Palermo/Catania derby is something that should be experienced by every football fan... but only once)
In Spain - the Mestalla - Valencia (because it stinks of p***, is horrifically steep, making you feel sick when you look down and is home to the worst set of fans in Spain)
Rochdale, back in the 60's. Our game at Blackburn got called off so we went to Rochdale to cheer on our old manager Bob Stokoe. He was amazed that a coach load of Charlton suddenly turned up. He came and chatted with us. Top geezer. Crap ground mind!
The Ricoh Arena. Of all the characterless-looks-the-same-as-fifteen-other-grounds type bowls it is the least characterful that I've been too.
Favourite is Molinuex or Hillsborough although I used to love the Manor Ground, it looked like they'd just knocked up a new stand on several occasions at an afternoons notice of a bigger than usual crowd.
I enjoy going to an 'un-visited' ground, it's all part of the away day experience: not knowing quite what to expect, the ground's design, its surroundings. facilities etc. The trouble with newly built grounds are that there are no eccentricities: they are too 'clinical'. and usually without any real character. Eastville was my own 'worst' ground but at the same time how many grounds had rose beds behind the goals and a Tote board at one end? Likewise Aldershot with its three sided ground in the middle of a town park: a terrible ground but a novel experience.
overall worst away ground experience was wigan. took so long to get there, shite game, shite atmosphere, in the middle of an industrial estate, pissed with rain on the walk back to the train which was then cancelled and had to get a bus.
The Old Baseball Ground in Derby used to be in the middle of an industrial estate too, and I swear every season the away section would be in a different bit of the ground, 'orrible home fans too. Major chip on their shoulder about Cloughie and Nottm. Forest, hate being reminded of his successes there.
Luton is terrible, sh*t area, sh*t ground, tiny seats, if i remember rightly the first few rows are almost below pitch level and also 1 side of the ground is stupid executive boxes.
Oxford's Manor Ground was pretty poor as well, they had about 10 stands in total.
Portsmouth by far the worst prem ground.
Comments
I would love to go back to the days gone by before these souless constructions of wealth and power. when Anfield goes it will be a truely sad day.
i loved the smell of the piss the stench of the horse meat pies the drunk bloke leaning against the barrier on a terrace that was either vast or small, the congregation of pals upon those steps, the noise the conditions the feel of a saturday, you were so close you could smell the mud and grass you heard the crunch of a tackle and the whalop of the ball.
and i am only 33 you are talking mid 80's here the best footballing memories i have, the peanut man the programme seller inside.
fuk how i wish i could go back ala life on mars how great it would be
Couldn't agree more, most of the grounds mentioned were indeed absolute karseys but I miss them I have to say..........
Here's a picture of a young Mr. FOD at Elm Park.
In Italy - the Angelo Massimino - Catania (because it is the most frightening ground I've ever been to - watching a Palermo/Catania derby is something that should be experienced by every football fan... but only once)
In Spain - the Mestalla - Valencia (because it stinks of p***, is horrifically steep, making you feel sick when you look down and is home to the worst set of fans in Spain)
Favourite is Molinuex or Hillsborough although I used to love the Manor Ground, it looked like they'd just knocked up a new stand on several occasions at an afternoons notice of a bigger than usual crowd.
Oxford's Manor Ground was pretty poor as well, they had about 10 stands in total.
Portsmouth by far the worst prem ground.